Chapter 23

"Until now, I have advised against your meetings with Baroness Diane, but it's fine now. I won't stop you anymore."

Even as I said this with a smile, there was no joy on Crown Prince Louis's face. Instead, he seemed to look even more sullen.

"In return, don't ignore me."

"…That's impossible."

"Oh, why not? You were always the one telling me to 'stay away,' right?"

Despite my repeated requests to stop his relationship with Oline, he had always treated me coldly, assuming I was just jealous.

"We are engaged. It's impossible for me not to pay attention to you."

"…Huh?"

I couldn't help but let out such a sound. Engaged? What is he talking about?

Is he suddenly realizing his role as my fiancé and deciding to treat me with respect?

No, that can't be it. Ah, maybe… hehe.

"That's right, if you and I weren't engaged, you wouldn't be the Crown Prince anymore."

At my words, Crown Prince Louis averted his gaze. Yes, he just doesn't like that idea.

If I were no longer his fiancée, the not particularly outstanding Crown Prince Louis would likely lose his position as the first in line to the throne to another prince.

"Fine, if you want to pay attention to me, I won't stop you. Did you come to see me as my fiancé today?"

"…Yes, that's right."

Ah, so it really was. Crown Prince Louis came to please me.

Did he wait for me for an hour for that reason?

…No, then why was he acting in a way that made me uncomfortable? Well, I guess this is his first time trying to please someone, so he just couldn't do it.

"If you want to pay attention to me, go ahead. But whether I respond sincerely depends on your attitude."

"…!"

"If you come to my house, make an appointment. Although I doubt I'll agree in the future."

With that, I thought the conversation was over and stood up.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"You came to see me, so we've met and talked. You can go now."

"Wait, I waited until this hour. At least have dinner with me."

"Your invitation is flattering, but I have plans to have dinner with Ivan today."

Dinner with Crown Prince Louis would definitely not be enjoyable. I'm surprised he can even invite me to dinner after treating me so coldly.

In a way, I admire that.

"…Why, don't you like me?"

"…"

Crown Prince Louis had been silent a lot, but now it was my turn. I didn't expect him to say something like that.

I was genuinely surprised.

Since he thought I was jealous of Oline, it's understandable that he would think this.

This is a good opportunity.

"Crown Prince Louis, let me be clear."

I glared down at the seated Crown Prince Louis and declared:

"I have never, not even for a moment, loved you."

Before and after the regression, always.

The engagement arranged by my father, and Crown Prince Louis, my fiancé.

As a duchess's daughter and his fiancée, I only interacted with Crown Prince Louis in that capacity.

I have never, not even for a moment, loved this person.

Crown Prince Louis, shocked by my words, widened his eyes.

"It's getting dark and chilly. Take care of yourself, Crown Prince Louis."

With that, I turned my back on Crown Prince Louis and headed for the door.

Sigh, what a waste of time.

As I reached for the door, I heard Crown Prince Louis stand up behind me.

"Asaria! Don't get too cocky just because I'm being a bit more accommodating!"

What, was his previous attitude considered being accommodating?

His arrogance is impressive.

I turned around and replied with a calm smile.

"Cocky? I've said this before, this is the dignified attitude of a duchess's daughter."

"Stop it! You're kidding me!"

Crown Prince Louis strode over and approached me.

A normal woman would be scared if a tall man approached her like that.

But I wasn't scared at all, and my smile didn't waver.

That smile seemed to irritate Crown Prince Louis even more.

"Enough…!"

His words, directed at me, were cut off by the knight, Lauro, who stepped between us.

"Your Highness, please step back."

"Hey! Who are you? Get out of the way! Do you know who I am!?"

Crown Prince Louis glared at Lauro and shouted.

Hehe, the Crown Prince, who was the first prince, is acting like the baron who was arrested in the town for causing trouble.

It's so funny, I almost laughed.

The two of them glared at each other from close range.

Lauro was taller, so Crown Prince Louis had to look up slightly.

"I am the knight who protects Lady Asaria. No matter who you are, I cannot allow anyone who might harm her to come near."

"What did you say…!?"

Crown Prince Louis, apparently losing his temper, began to channel his magic to strengthen his body.

The royal family has magic, and they are stronger than ordinary nobles.

He is definitely stronger than Baron Pidol, who hit Lauro.

Of course, he is far from the level of a duchess's family.

"Step back!"

Crown Prince Louis punched Lauro in the stomach.

Lauro didn't defend himself and just took the hit.

And… as expected.

"Ugh!?"

The one who groaned in pain was Crown Prince Louis.

It had been over a week since Baron Pidol hit him, but he had been trained by Ivan.

The power of the royal family was no match for breaking his hand.

"Damn you…!"

Crown Prince Louis's right hand, which he had hit with all his might, was swollen and bruised.

Ah, it seems to be broken.

I burned my right palm, and it had just healed, but now it's a broken bone.

Well, it's all his own doing.

"Oh dear, Crown Prince Louis, are you okay? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing…!"

Crown Prince Louis tried to hide his right hand behind his back.

It's so… lame.

"Asaria, make your knight step back. This insolent man."

"Who's being insolent? Crown Prince Louis, how many times do I have to tell you? Or… do you really want him to step back?"

I snapped my fingers and created a small flame on the tip of my index finger.

"Wait, Asaria!"

Seeing my flame, Crown Prince Louis panicked.

The flame itself wasn't powerful enough to knock someone out, but it was enough to intimidate Crown Prince Louis.

"Then please leave quickly."

"Ah, alright. I'll leave today."

"Yes, I don't think you'll be invited to this main house again."

Crown Prince Louis left with a haughty attitude, glaring at me and Lauro.

Finally, he's gone.

I returned to my room, sat on the sofa, and had Mimi make me some tea.

But I didn't expect Crown Prince Louis to come to please me, even if just for show.

Our relationship has changed a lot since before the regression.

This time, I will be the one to break the engagement.

I wonder what face he will make when I break the engagement.

Before, no matter what I did, Crown Prince Louis cheated with Oline and broke the engagement.

I'm looking forward to getting my revenge.

I'll wait a bit longer before breaking the engagement.

Before the regression, I was always afraid of when the engagement would be broken, and I did many things to prevent it, but it all ended up being in vain.

The miserable feeling I had then… I want Crown Prince Louis to experience it too.

As I was drinking the tea Mimi made, I remembered that Lauro was still standing behind me.

"Lauro, thank you today. Is your stomach, which he hit, okay?"

"Yes, it's completely fine."

Yeah, I thought so, but I asked just to be sure.

Speaking of which, I was a bit curious about Lauro's age at the tea party.

"How old are you, Lauro?"

"…I don't know. I've never counted."

"Really?"

"Yes, I was picked up by a small orphanage as an abandoned child, so I don't know my age. My name was given to me by the people at the orphanage."

"…I see."

Lauro might have had a harder childhood than I imagined.

"How long have you been aware of yourself? How many birthdays have you had?"

"I think it's been about fifteen years since I became aware. I don't know my birthday."

"You don't know? What do you mean?"

"I don't know my own birthday. I just celebrate it on Leo and Lena's birthdays."

I didn't expect him not to know his birthday…

"How did you know Leo and Lena's birthdays? Did they remember them?"

"No, they didn't remember, so they decided to celebrate the day they met me as their birthday."

"That's nice."

What a wonderful way to decide a birthday, it's really good.

Then…

"Lauro, let's celebrate your birthday on the day we met."

"Ah? No, it's fine for me to celebrate it with Leo and Lena."

"While it's nice to celebrate with them, it's better to have a separate day so each of you can be celebrated. It will be more fun."

Considering how much Lauro cares for his siblings, he probably always celebrated their birthdays and ignored his own.

Now that I've met him, I won't let that happen.

"Leo and Lena also want to celebrate your birthday grandly, not just as an afterthought."

"Is that so…?"

Lauro thought for a moment and then smiled.

"Alright, I'll do that. My birthday will be the day I met Lady Asaria."

"Yes, that's good. Look forward to next year. I'll celebrate it so much that your stiff expression will turn soft and mushy."

"Soft and mushy… does that mean I'll be hit so much?"

"That's not what I meant!"

I couldn't help but correct Lauro's joke, which I couldn't tell if it was intentional or not.

After that, Lauro, whose shift was over, left to have dinner.

"Ha, Lauro is really off in some ways."

As I sighed, Mimi, who was standing by, chuckled.

"Hehe, but that's what makes him interesting, Lady Asaria."

"Yes, but I can't tell if he's looking forward to his birthday or not."

"No, I think he is. He smiled when you decided his birthday."

"You're right, I hope so."

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[Author's Note]

The book has been decided for publication and a manga adaptation!

Thank you to all the readers!

I really appreciate it!

Please continue to support the story!